STALKER 2: Heart of Chornobyl has provided an engaging gaming experience so far, featuring intriguing side quests alongside the primary storyline. However, I’ve encountered a significant issue with one of the early main missions in the Lesser Zone that left me feeling frustrated and perplexed.
The game’s launch was marred by bugs and performance glitches, particularly for PC users. While many issues are manageable and do not break the gameplay experience, one glaring bug in a crucial main mission severely disrupted my immersion and led to considerable annoyance.
Bugged Mission: Behind Seven Seals
Endless Enemy Waves
The mission “Behind Seven Seals”revolves around Skif’s task to locate a character named Solder. The initial segments of the quest are manageable, but the difficulty spikes upon reaching Solder and engaging in dialogue with him. After sparing his life, players must navigate out of a military base to continue the quest.
As I attempted to exit, an overwhelming number of soldiers suddenly appeared on the map. Descending to the ground floor, I positioned myself by the front doors, only to find waves of soldiers continuously spawning. After taking down approximately 15-20 enemies, I tried to escape to the back of the building, hoping to disrupt the chaotic cycles of infinite spawns. Unfortunately, this merely triggered another wave of enemy troops, this time at the rear entrance.
By this point, my ammunition was completely depleted. I scavenged through the fallen bodies in hopes of salvaging some bullets while dodging an endless stream of NPC soldiers pouring in. Realizing the situation was futile, I decided to make a hasty retreat to the next part of the quest, narrowly avoiding enemy fire.
Mission Design & Disruption of Immersion
Possibly the Worst Mission in STALKER 2
Despite enjoying the overall gameplay of STALKER 2, this particular mission shattered my sense of immersion. It’s important to remember that in a military context, a high number of troops might be deployed, but the way this scenario played out not only drained my resources but also diminished the enjoyment, transforming STALKER 2 into something resembling a Call of Duty lobby filled with AI-controlled enemies.
The issue seems to stem from specific areas within the base that trigger additional enemy spawns. I noticed a brief lull where I could replenish my ammunition from the deceased soldiers, but immediately upon trying to exit, I was met with numerous soldiers, both ahead and behind me, leading to my demise.
This situation raises the question: was this oversight intentional? If it is part of the game design, it ranks among the least enjoyable missions in STALKER 2. In a title where maintaining a bulletproof vest can be costly, this segment feels especially frustrating. I hoped to stand my ground, believing the onslaught would eventually cease, but it became clear that this was not the case. As this mission is integral to the main storyline, most players will likely face this challenge unless a fix is implemented promptly.
Missing Out on Valuable Loot
The most disappointing aspect of this scenario was the inability to loot the soldiers I had defeated. Upon reloading a previous save, I opted to rush to the next quest marker, avoiding combat altogether, which added to my dissatisfaction. This experience undermined the thrill of the hunt and deepened my disappointment with the mission design.
While it would be acceptable to face 30 or even 40 soldiers, the random spawning triggered by invisible mechanics detracts from the realism and enjoyment. There could be technical limitations at play that affect the A-Life system, or it may simply be a misstep in design. Regardless, if this malfunction is intentional, it arguably stands as one of the lowest points of the game.
Small Bugs Can Significantly Impact Gameplay
Potential Realized But Flawed Execution
STALKER 2 is well-crafted, with a rich narrative that holds significant stakes affecting gameplay outcomes. However, minor bugs—especially those found at the game’s outset—can greatly inhibit the experience, particularly for players new to the franchise. Fortunately, aside from occasional stuttering and getting stuck, my gaming experience has been relatively bug-free thus far.
Yet, this doesn’t necessarily reflect the experiences of all players, as numerous posts on forums like Reddit and feedback on Steam reveal a mixed bag in terms of performance (though the game’s rating has improved to Very Positive). This is disappointing, as technical issues shouldn’t overshadow the brilliance of STALKER 2 and may deter some potential players from engaging with it.
Fortunately, the recent patch addressed over 650 bugs, suggesting that STALKER 2 will improve over time, similar to the trajectory of Cyberpunk 2077. While the initial experience might be rocky, I am optimistic that the financial success of the game will empower GSC Game World to refine and perfect the title, revealing its true potential to future players.
Source: Steam
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